Amy Winehouse Praised By St Lucia's Tourism Minister

Amy Winehouse's holiday in St Lucia has provided a vital boost to local tourism, a government minister has said.

Tourism minister Allen Chastanet said the singer's trip, which has been widely publicised by the media, had reflected positively on the Caribbean Island.

Various tabloid reports have claimed that Winehouse has upset fellow holidaymakers during her four week break, which began shortly before Christmas.

However, Mr Chastanet said yesterday (January 15th) that the government had sent her a gift basket of local products to thank the singer for her visit.

In competitive times, Mr Chastanet told a local TV station, "any edge that you can get, you hang on to it."

Since her arrival in the Caribbean, Winehouse has been pictured looking healthier than recent months. She was also romantically linked to a fellow holidaymaker who has since left the island.

As previously reported on Gigwise, Winehouse has spoken out about the media coverage of her holiday, saying it was the “price you have to pay”.